Ghulam Sarwar Khan sacked as Petroleum Minister: Reports

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday dismissed Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan over unsatisfactory performance hours after Finance Minister Asad Umar announced to step down from his post. According to a private news channel quoting sources, the premier is expected to appoint a federal minister, and there will also be changes in the minister of revenue and commerce. State Minister Shahriyar Khan Afridi is expected to maintain his portfolio. Umar took to Twitter to announce that he had decided to leave the federal cabinet after being told by Prime Minister Imran Khan to take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance as part of a cabinet reshuffle. “As part of a cabinet reshuffle PM desired that I take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance. However, I have obtained his consent to not take any cabinet position. I strongly believe @ImranKhanPTI is the best hope for Pakistan and inshallah will make a naya Pakistan,” Umar tweeted. Following his tweet, Umar addressed a news conference in which he stressed his support for Prime Minister Imran Khan despite stepping down as finance minister. “This does not mean that I am not available to support PM’s vision on naya Pakistan,” Umar said. According to Umar, tough decisions were taken to overcome the economic crisis in the country and his replacement would be taking over a difficult job. “This is the most difficult job after the prime minister. There is no doubt that we are moving towards prosperity but tough decisions need to be taken,” he added.